36+1=Giveaway {And a rather boring housekeeping post}

I have a new blog. A new address, actually, so please do update your feeds if you read this little blog on a feed reader. Today is my 36th birthday and my blog’s 1st birthday, so I decided to treat myself with a new look. Didn’t Nicole do a great job? There is one kink we’re working on–I can’t seem to double space and my post is looking a bit crowded. I’m sorry if it’s hard to read, but I promise it will only be temporary. If you notice any other problems, please let me know.

In true keeping with my indecisive self, I have a rotating picture up in my banner. Every time you refresh or come back, a new picture of mediocre quality will greet you happily! I also had installed a fun (and popular) little plugin called comment luv. From now on, every time you comment here (if you have a blog) your last post title and link will show up for everyone to see and click. I’ve discovered great posts using this feature on other blogs, so hopefully you’ll have the same luck. I still need to finish the about page, move over the blogroll, and update my book page. All in due time.

I have plenty of room for advertisers, so if you have a shop you would like people to know about, please send me a 120×120 banner to jules [at] pancakesandfrenchfries.com and I will put it up, gratis, for a period of time yet to be determined–although I’m thinking 3 months sounds good. Obviously, I have only so much room so this is a first come first serve offer. {Becky, I still have your banner and you’re already on my list!}

What I love the most about my new blog is that it uses Word Press and that handy scheduling feature. Right now, as you read this, Kara and I are at one of those free Pottery Barn decorating classes where they try to get you to buy product on the sly. Later, I will go to my parents for some yummy lunch, and then after that it’s the inlaws for more of the same in the form of pot roast birthday dinner. All this talk about food reminds me, remember my pledge to lose 36 pounds before my 36th birthday? I think I gained 6 pounds instead. Oh well, 37 pounds before my 37th birthday it shall be.

I may not be able to give myself the gift of health this year, but I can give all of you who read this blog something! When I posted asking to know more about you, the overwhelming majority mentioned a love of books. I guess it’s only natural that book lovers would happen across the blog of another book lover, but for me it gave me a sense of comfort knowing most of you would completely understand staying up all night to finish a good book, and why sometimes I can’t be bothered with writing because I am too busy reading. So, I came up with what I think is a great giveaway idea, and what I hope will turn into a Pancakes and French Fries tradition. I’m going to give away a new copy of my favorite book of the year. My favorite book of the year, actually, is one recommended to me by Jen when I asked for a vacation reading list. One person will get a brand new copy of Winifred Watson’s Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. There is a movie based on the book, but I haven’t seen it. I made a point to buy the Persephone Books edition because I can’t abide by movie poster book covers. Blech.

I am sometimes accused of reading only “dark” books. I disagree. I am drawn to books with religious themes, yes, but for the most part I just enjoy books that make me think. I don’t equate thoughtful subjects with a dark personality, but so be it. Don’t worry, though, because this book is not dark. In fact, it’s lighthearted, fun, and a very easy read. Perhaps I loved it so much because I didn’t have to think? I don’t know. I just know once I started reading it I couldn’t stop. It’s an old book, first published in 1938, and I know at least part of the allure for me was reflecting on the cultural changes that have occurred since then. And trust me, some of the decidedly un-P.C. dialog will have you simultaneously laughing and cringing.

So my favorite book of the year is fun and easy. Hopefully, if you like the idea, we can do the same thing next year or sooner. In order to win, comment once with your favorite book–of the year or of your life–by Saturday, December 6th. I’ll use a random number generator to pick one book lover out of the bunch.

Jules! Happy Birthday my dear! I hope you are enjoying Pottery Barn! The Blog looks FANTASTIC, it already has brightened my day. I too can not buy a book with a movie poster on the cover, blech is right! Hey how did Kara get a pick in her comments? Is that some sort of techy magic? Yes, Nicole did a gorgeous job (how could she not?) and I think you are a great photographer! I love the images, mine came on as the flowers and they looked stunning with the design, I love it!

Happy birthday!!! The blog looks fantastic! My agent-lady recommended that I read Yes Man, but they took it out of stores because the movie-cover version was coming out. So the only one I could eventually find had an ecstatic Jim Carrey on the front. I feel a bit cheesy holding it. It’s okay so far. I really enjoyed A Year of Living Biblically, which I finished a few months ago. I’d recommend that!

I’m going to step outside of my box here, and go from my usual Stephen King spiel to a chldren’s book.
When I was younger, I happened across a book called “Behind the Attic Wall” by Sylvia Cassedy. I’ve read it at least 100 times since. It’s one of my absolute favorite books ever … and that’s saying a lot. I can’t wait to share it with my girls.

Happy Birthday Jules!!
I hope that you are having a fabulous day! I love the new look! Very chic!
Hmm my favorite book…there are so many. I will pick my favorite book club book from the last year. It was The Last Lecture – so many lessons to learn there. Happy Birthday again!

Drat! I was out of town at a show and I missed your birthday. Oh well, 36 was a great year for me, I hope it is for you as well!
So, I love “The Name of The Rosa” by Umberto Eco have you read it? I liked Foucault’s Pendulum by him as well. Eco has Religion and a love of language.

Another favorite is “The Baron in the Trees” by Italo Calvino so many good memories of that one…

Well Happy Birthday (a day late) and the new blog is just beautiful! I feel the same way about movie poster covered books. Who wants that? I want the classic cover. Glad I’m not alone in this. I thought I was weird. My favorite book of all time is A Moveable Feast. I get completely lost in that book. Just mentioning it makes me want to go home and start reading it again.

Happy Birthday and thanks for writing a great blog! One of my favorites is The Secret Life of Bees, though I didn’t care for the movie version recently. Unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to read lately.

Happy Birthday Jules
Love the yellow
I hate to admit it but after hearing all the hype about Twilight I bought the book. I am now obsessed. It is a four part sage and I am almost done with the third. I love it.

Angela’s Ashes – Frank McCourt: I knew there was another one I loved and it was bugging me b/c it wasn’t coming to mind earlier also The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wall. I’m a sucker for a triumphant underdog :)

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Housekeeping is a very broad term that encompasses the general cleaning from ceiling to the floor, to the window to the door of your house. It also includes both outdoor and indoor chores. This has something to do with giving appropriate time, effort and techniques to every fraction of the entire house.

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